Collapsible reflector



NOV. 14, 1933. p L. Q DQANE 1,935,045

COLLAPSIBLE REFLECTOR Filed Sept. 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTORLeroy C Doane ATTORNEY NOV. 14, 1933- Q DOANE 1,935,045

COLLAPS IBLE REFLECTOR Filed Sept, 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORLeroy C. Duane ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Miller Company, Meriden, Conn.,

. tion of Connecticut a corpora- Application September 1, 1931. SerialNo. 560,551 17 Claims. ('01. 240-103) The present invention relates tocollapsible reflectors and is more particularly directed towardcollapsible reflectors suitable for use with photoflash lamps. I

The availability of the photo-flash lamp, which may be operated from anordinary flash light battery, makes it possible to take flash lightpictures readily. In order, however, that the light may be directed inthe desired direction to produce more intense illumination of thesubject, it is desirable to employ a reflector behind the flash bulb. Asan efiicient reflector would be comparatively large and difilcult tocarry about and store, it is desirable to provide a collapsiblereflector for this purpose.

The present invention contemplates a collapsible reflector which maybeemployed when extended to catch and redirect a very large portion of thelight emitted by the flash bulb and which, when collapsed, may be storedin a very small place and readily carried about.

The reflector can conveniently be made from a plurality of sheet metalplates preferably having the shape of an isosceles triangle, the platesbeing hinged together so as to becollapsible to small dimensions orextendible to, form an eflicient reflector. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsiblereflectorwhich when extended is of e such shapeas to collect light raysfrom the photoflash lamp and reflect themin the desired directionwithout loss of reflected light by absorption of the light in theflashbulb. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient detachablehandle for use with such reflectors.

Other and further objects of the invention will Fig. 2 is a frontelevational view of the reflector and handle assembled foruse;

Fig. 3 is aside elevational view of the same; Fig. 4 is a view similarto "Fig. 1 showingtwo of the plates folded on to the other, plates as afirst step in collapsing the reflector Fig. 5 is a perspective viewshowing: the collapsible reflector nearly collapsed;

Fig. 6 is airagmentary view showing one end' of the completely collapsedreflector; 1

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 3; Figs. 8 and'9 arediagrammatic vertical: and horizontalviews illustrating the reflectingof the light rays to avoid the lamp bulb;

Fig.v 10 is a sectional view of the control switch;

and r I Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10. As shown inthe drawings the reflector is made 'up of plates of sheet metal,preferably six in number. The plates 10 and 11 are provided withknuckles indicated at 12, 12 to form a central hinge 13, this hingebeing placed behind the plates as they appear in the drawings.

The preferable shape to give these plates is that of an isoscelestriangle with an acute angle at the the plates 20 to 23 inclusive may behingedly carried by the plates 10 and 11 as indicated. These hinges areformed by passing a hinged pin 2'1 through the knuckles in the usualmanner. The plates '20 to'23 inclusive are of similar shape to plates 10and 11 but are preferably made slightly narrower. The free edges ofthese plates are folded over as indicated at 28, 29, and 30 to formstiffening ribs. The plates 20 and 23 are provided with channel formingmembers 31 and 32 secured in place by rivets as indicated at.33. 1 Whenthe parts are laid outflat they .appear as indicated in Fig.1 and whenone desires to form them into the extended reflector, the plates 10 and11 are folded to an angle such as indiand, allows passing the -foldededge29 of the plate 21 into the channel formed between the members 31and 32. There is sufficient friction between these parts to hold theplates in place.

bers 31 and 32 carried by the plate 23. This brings the reflector to theshape shown in Figs. 2 and3. V

When it is desired to collapse is placed on a fiat surface and the partsseparated so that they can be moved to the position the reflector itcated in Fig. 9. This permits swinging the plates 20 and 21 to the angleindicated in the drawings -In a similar manner the edge 29 of the plate22; r is passed into the channel formed by the mem-:

in Fig. 1. The plates 21 and 22 are then folded 1 that they lie fiatabove the plates 10 and 11.

Eachof these plates is made slightly narrower, as abovereferred to, sothat the free edge will fall inside the hinge for the opposite plate.The plates 20 and 23 may then be folded over on. 7 top of the plates 22and 21 respectively and the.

devices then folded along the hinge 13 to bring the parts in theposition'indicated in Figs. 5.

- over as indicated in Fig. 4 where it will be seen ets 62.

and 6. When the reflector is collapsed in this position, it is in theform of a very fiat triangular shaped article. Its thickness may bethreequarters of an inch. The plates 20 to 23. inclusive are all alikeand the plates 10 and 11 are alike except for the difference in theformation of the knuckles. Hence the parts may be cheaply made andassembled.

When the reflector is in the extended position as shown in Figs. 2 and3, it may be readily mounted on a holder such as shown. This holder maytake the form of a handle 40 having at the upper end a socket 41 adaptedto support a photoflash lamp indicated at 42. The handle carriesabracket 43. made of sheet metal and secured to it by rivets. Thisbracket may conveniently have two spring fingers 44 and 45 and a rigidback portion 46. The back portion is V- shaped as indicated to engagethe channel forming member 32 while the fingers engage the frontsurfaces of the plates 22 and 23. The fingers 44 and 45 are spaced sothat they pass by the edges of the channel forming member 31 and engagethe edge of the folded portion 29 of the plates. This engagementsubstantially stiffens the entire reflector and makes it impossible topull the plate 22 out of the channel.

The ends of the plates 10 and 11 are provided with sheet metal clips 47and 48, each of which pivotally holds a wire clip 49. These wire clipsare adapted to be swung out away from the plate so as to stand at rightangles to the plate and one may then insert a second or third photoflashlamp into place by merely passing the base of the lamp into one or theother of these spring clips. The bulb will then be held close enough tothe bulb 42 so that the extra bulbs will be flashed simultaneously withthe center bulb.

From Figs. 8 and 9, which show the path of light rays on the photo-flashbulb, it will be noted that the reflector intercepts more than one halfthe light emitted by the lamp bulb and reflects it in such a manner asto direct it toward the end of this tube is drawninwarclly as indicatedand is secured to a lamp socket shell'Gl by riv The shell 40' has anopening 63 to accommodate the arm 6410f a circuit closer.- This arm orbutton is secured to a helical'spring' 65 which is attached by rivets 66to an insulating disk 67. ihe rivets 66 also support a bracket 67 whichlimits the downward movement of the circuit closer arm. Arm 64and'spring 65 are se spring 65 when the button 64 is moved upwardly.-

Thedisk 67- is secured in place by means ofza screw '73 which passesthrough an insulating disk '74 above the rivets 62 and an insulatingdisk below these rivets. Thescrew 73 forms a center contact for the lampbase as indicated.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied inmany forms andconstructions and I Wish it to be understood that. the particular form.shown is but one. of the many forms, Various metal plates having atleast three straight edges,

a hinge connecting them together along one such edge, said hingepermitting swinging the plates through an angle. of more than 180 sothat the plates may be brought together back to back or formed into aforwardly facing angle, the plates having hinge elements along two othersuch edges, and four sheet metal plates each having a hinge elementalong one edge, and four hinge pins, each securing one of the lattermentioned plates to an edge of one of the-first mentioned plates. r

2. A collapsible reflector comprising two sheet metal plates having atleast three straight edges, a hinge connecting themtogether along onesuch edge, the plates having hinge elements along two other such edges,and four sheet metal plates each having a hinge element along one edge,and four hinge pins, each securing one of the latter mentioned plates toan edge of one of the first mentioned plates, the hinge connectionsbetween the first mentioned plates and one of the second mentionedplates hinged thereto being such that said two second mentioned platesmayformed into a forwardly facing angle, the plates having hingeelements along two other such edges, and four sheet metal plates eachhaving a hinge element along one edge, and four hinge pins, eachsecuring one of the latter mentioned plates to an edge of one of thefirst mentioned plates, the hinge connections between the firstmentioned plates and one of the second mentioned plates hinged theretobeing such that said two second mentioned plates may be folded forwardlyto lie flat adjacentthe face of the corresponding first mentioned plate.I I

4. A collapsible reflector comprising two sheet metal plates having atleast three straight edges, a hinge connecting them together along onesuch edge, the plates having hinge elements along two other such edges,and four sheet metal plates each having a hinge element along one edge,and four hinge pins, each securing one of the latter mentioned platesto-an edge of one of the first mentioned plates, the hinge connectionsbetween each of the first mentioned plates and each of the sec- 0ndmentioned plates being such that the second flat adjacent the face ofthe corresponding first I mentioned plates.

5. A collapsible, reflector comprising two sheet metal plates having atleast three straight edges, a hinge connecting them together along onesuch edge, the plates having hinge elements along two other such edges,and four sheet metal plates each having a hinge element along one edge,and four hinge pins, each securing one of the latter mentioned plates toan edge of one of the first mentioned plates, the hinge connectionsbetween the first mentioned plates and one of the second mentionedplates hinged thereto being such that said two second mentioned platesmay befolded mentioned plates may be folded forwardly to lie forwardlyto lie flat adjacent the face of the corresponding first mentionedplate, said second mentioned plates being narrower than the firstmentioned plates sothat when folded their edges fall inside the hingesalong the opposite edge of the first mentioned plate.

6. A collapsible reflector comprising two sheet metal plates having atleast three straight edges, a hinge connecting them together along onesuch edge, said hinge permitting swinging the plates through an angle ofmore than 180 so that the plates may be brought together back to back orformed into a forwardly facing angle, the plates having hinge elementsalong two other such edges, and four sheet metal plates each having ahinge element along one edge, and four hinge pins, each securing one ofthe latter mentioned plates to an edge of one of the first mentionedplates, the hinge connections between each of the first mentioned platesand each of the second mentioned plates being such, that the secondmentioned plates may be folded forwardly to lie flat adjacent the facesof the corresponding first mentioned plates.

'7. A collapsiblereflector comprising two sheet metal plates having atleast three straight edges, a hinge connecting them together along onesuch edge, the plates having hinge elements along two other such edges,four sheet metal plates each having a hinge element along one edge, andfour hinge pins each securing one of the latter mentioned plates to anedge of one of the first mentioned plates, and means for securing theadjacent edges of adjacent second mentioned plates together so that thesix plates form a generally concave reflector. V V

8. A collapsible reflector comprising two sheet metal plates having atleast three straight edges, a hinge connecting them together along onesuch edge, the plates having hinge elements along two other such edges,four sheet metal plates each having a hinge element along one edge, andfour hinge pins each securing one of the latter mentioned plates to anedge of one of the first mentioned plates, and clips carried by theedges of two of the latter mentioned plates adapted to receive theadjacent edges of adjacent plates so that the six plates form agenerally concave reflector.

9. A collapsible reflector formed'of six plates having the shape of anisosceles triangle with an acute angle at the apex, two of the platesbeing hinged together along the short side of the triangle, each of theremaining plates being hinged along one long side to a long side of oneof the first mentioned plates, and means to detachably secure togetheradjacent plates at their shorter edges to hold thereflector to shape.10. A collapsible reflector formed of six plates having the shape of anisosceles triangle with an acute angle at the apex, two of the platesbeing hinged together along the short side of the triangle, each of theremaining plates being hinged along one long side to a long side of oneof the first mentioned plates, two of the latter mentioned plates beingprovided with spaced members extending along the shortside thereof andin an oblique plane for receiving the shorter side edge of an adjacentplate.

11. A collapsible reflector formed of six plates having the shape of anisosceles triangle with an acute angle at the apex, two of theplates'being hinged together along the short side of the triangle, eachof the remaining plates being hinged along one long side to a long sideof one of the first mentioned plates, said plates being foldable into acompact pile of the dimension of one plate and six thicknesses.

12. A collapsible reflector formed of six plates having the shape of anisosceles triangle with an acute angle at the apex, two of the platesbeing hinged together along the short side of the tri- V angle, each ofthe remaining plates being hinged having the shape of an isoscelestriangle with an acute angle at the, apex, two of the plates beinghinged together along the short side of the triangle, each of theremaining plates being hinged along one long side to a long side of oneof the first mentioned plates, the hinge being formed by rolled knucklesintegral with the plates and an enclosed hinge rod, the first mentionedhinge being on the opposite side from .the other four hingesr 7 14. Incombination, a collapsible reflector having two plates one of which isfolded back on its self at the edge to form a stiffening rib, the othercarrying spaced channel forming members adapted to receive the rib alongthe edge of the other plate, and a handle having a clip to slidablyreceive the plates, the clip being provided with two flexible fingers toengage the front faces of the plates and with a rigid rear portion toengage the outer channel forming member.

15. In combination, a collapsible reflector having two plates one ofwhich is folded back on its self at the edge to form a stiffening rib,the other carrying spaced channel forming members adapted to receive therib along the edge of the other plate, and a handle having a clip toslidably receive the plates, the clip being provided with two flexiblefingers to engage the front faces of the plates and with a rigid rearportion to engage the outer channel forming member, one of the flexiblefingers being located so as to engage the edge of the folded backportion of the plate to prevent removal of the plate from the channelwhen the clip is in place.

16. A photographic lighting unit comprising'a 'handle carrying a lampsocket at the end of the handle, a photoflash lamp in the socket, abracket secured to the handle, and a detachable and collapsible sheetmetal reflector carried by the bracket, the reflector being composed ofa plurality of flat sheet metal plates hinged together and extendingfrom below the lamp upwardly behind

